Spotlight on Women Coordinators

Spotlight on the Women's Coordinators of the European Bridge Federations.

The Women's Bridge Committee has established a network of Women's Coordinators, who are a source of great inspiration to us all. They volunteer and contribute to promoting women's bridge to the best of their ability, because they believe that Women's Bridge Matters!

It is our pleasure to introduce you to these remarkable people, (not just women by the way), and to be inspired by them.

It is important for us, to give them exposure and a voice, to understand their point of view and to raise awareness and trigger discussions on Women's Bridge issues.

Tuba Akarcalıoğlu

The Rise of Women's Bridge in Türkiye: A Growing Mind Sport

Meet the Turkish Bridge Federation and its inspiring Women's Coordinator, Tuba Akarcalıoğlu, the driving force behind the remarkable growth of Women’s Bridge in Türkiye. As the Women's Coordinator of the Turkish Bridge Federation, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of the game, empowering more women to join, compete, and lead in the world of bridge.

This article, featuring both research about the TBF and an interview withe Tuba Akarcalıoğlu, was conducted by Rosemarie Kuntz and published in the June 2025 edition of the German Bridge Magazine. We are delighted to share it with you here.

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Bridge is often regarded as a game of intellect, strategy, and social interaction. In many documents Turkiye is shown as the homeland of bridge; gaining the name from The Galata Bridge in Istanbul. Traditionally dominated by male players, the world of bridge is witnessing significant changes, particularly with the rising participation of women.

In Türkiye , women's involvement in bridge has seen growth over the past few years, reflecting broader trends in gender inclusivity in sports and activities that were once predominantly male. Though it differs from year to year , ın Türkiye we have nearly 85 active bridge clubs and around 4300 licensed active bridge sporters of which %28 are women. Turkish Women National Team has shown remarkable consistency in success and the Turkish Bridge Federation is proud to underline the fact that they have become a world brand.

The Turkish Bridge Federation (TBF), established in 1997, plays a crucial role in promoting bridge as a sport and organizing competitions. TBF has made deliberate efforts to enhance the visibility of women in bridge. Initiatives like women-only tournaments and women training camps have become increasingly popular, fostering a supportive environment for female players.

To further advance women's bridge in Türkiye, TBF Women's Committee organizes an annual women's bridge training camp that invites participants of all levels. This camp serves not only as a platform for skill development but also helps to build a sense of community among female players.

Additionally, we encourage our clubs to host award-winning women's pairs tournaments, offering competitive opportunities and incentives for female players to engage with the sport. These events provide an excellent avenue for players to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience in a competitive setting.

Furthermore, female players are encouraged to participate in the EBL/WBF competitions and training sessions. This exposure helps with their development, enabling them to compete on international stages and elevate their levels of expertise while playing against the best players.

The key characteristics that drive Turkish women bridge champions to success are multifaceted. For them, bridge is more than just a competitive sport; it has become a central issue to their lives. This deep commitment is reflected in their approach to the game, as they prioritize quality over quantity.

Our champions consistently work on their system arrangements with their partners until they reach solutions, fostering a closer convergence in their perspectives. They place significant value on long-term, stable partnerships, which necessitate patience, mental resilience and determination. Prior to important championships, they engage in training camps, working closely with their coaches to prepare thoroughly. Attention to sleep and nutrition is also paramount, ensuring they maintain peak physical and mental conditions. Throughout the year, they follow a continuous weekly training and exercise program, building both skill and synergy within the team.

Their strong relationships with other national teams further contribute to their growth, as they engage in constructive dialogues and friendly competitions. Among many victories landmark achievement occurred when the Turkish Women's National Bridge Team won the World Championship in 2024. This historic victory not only brought pride to Türkiye but also showcased the growing talent and dedication of Turkish women bridge sporters.

Despite the progress made, challenges remain. Many women still feel like encountering barriers and a lack of representation in leadership roles within bridge organizations. Addressing these issues is essential for the continued growth of women's bridge in Türkiye.

To further enhance women's participation, ongoing support from the TBF and local clubs is needed in areas such as sponsorship, visibility and mentorship. Increasing awareness about bridge as an inclusive sport can also help to attract more female players.

The rise of women's bridge in Türkiye is an encouraging trend that reflects broader positive changes in gender equality in mind sports.

As Turkish women's bridge continues to gain recognition globally, it reinforces not only the commitment of sporters but also the dedication of supporters and organizers who believe in the potential of women in this sport. As more women take up the game, they not only enrich the Bridge community but also pave the way for future generations of female players. The journey of women in Turkish bridge will undoubtedly keep contributing to the rich tapestry of this beloved mind sport.

Helle Rasmussen

Meet Helle Rasmussen, the Women's Coordinator from Denmark who was the first coordinator to win the title – Women's Coordinator of the Year 2023.

Tell us a bit about yourself Helle:

I am 53 years old, I live with my partner and I have 3 children (2 girls aged 27 and 24 and a boy aged 20). None of them play bridge 🙁. My partner is very much into cycling so he fully understand my competitiveness (competitive edge 🙂), my dedication and my love for the game. I work full-time in a private company where we sell and service professional navigation and communication equipment. I am in charge of our employees (30 here in Denmark and 4 in Malaysia), meaning HRM, and EA to our director. In my spare time, if any, I play padel tennis or go for a run.

How did you start your affair with Bridge?

My parents and my older brother all play, so it was easier to bring me along to the local club rather than hiring a nanny. So I started playing in the local club when I was about 10 years old. I played with my mother for around 15 years, and we won many local championships. I have an older sister too, but she does not play at all.

How do you interact with Bridge today?

I have been a board member of our local club for around 10 years, a player for 40+ years (more seriously though only for past 17 years)... and now I'm the Danish Women's Coordinator.

How did you become the Danish Women's Coordinator?

Well, I have been coordinating the Danish online practice matches for quite some years now. Our pool of women pairs to compete for the national team is not big, so we have to 'upgrade' more women pairs; the only way to do that, is via trainings. So I had an idea to coordinate online training for women teams below national level ... I shared this idea with our NBO and the EBL's Women's Committee took this to the international level and I was asked by our NBO to participate .. and the rest is history.

Why is Women's Bridge so important to you?

When I first made my own team in the Danish women's league, way back, I was always met with attitudes such as "no interest in women's bridge", or "women's bridge is inferior to that of men's", "Nobody wants to read about women players or boards they played", etc. It infuriated me!

Now I am older (definitely wiser) but I still get very angry when I encounter such attitudes ... and it is still out there.

What difficulties do you encounter when trying to promote Women's Bridge

Sometimes I encounter women who lack confidence in their Bridge skills, and think they are not good enough to participate in the training sessions and play against other teams from other countries. Also, to some extent I encounter lack of interest, mainly from men. But, I also get very positive feedback from the women that do attend the online tournaments - and that is the most important thing.

Are you in favor of keeping the women's category?

In a perfect world all humans are equal so there should be only ONE category but the reality is different. we also see it from the surveys made by the EBL's Women's Committee, which clearly speak for themselves. Having the women's category, as well as the juniors and the seniors, allows many more female players to participate in the various tournaments and championships, so yes, I am totally in favor of keeping the women's category alive.

What are your main goals for the coming year

From a coordinator point of view, I am hoping to see more women players participating in the events that are arranged by EBL, WBF and our own NBO. Participating in tournaments, whether online or face-2-face, creates bonds and networks that make it even easier or more desirable to participate in more tournaments.

On a personal level, Denmark will host the European Teams Championship this year, and a good result on 'home turf' is everybody's dream, I think...

Angeliki Politou

We are happy to start with Angeliki Politou – the amazing Women's Coordinator of Greece – who is not afraid to say what she thinks in the hope of making a difference.

Tell us a bit about yourself Angeliki:

I have been a television news producer for over 30 years in the National Broadcasting channel of Greece, ERT. I'm 65 years old, retired for some years now, living in Greece and busy with Bridge.

How did you start your affair with Bridge?

When I was 40 I was introduced to Bridge and it was love at the first sight. Although I was very busy travelling with my job all over the world and raising my 2 daughters, I always managed to keep a bridge book nearby. When I travelled Europe for business, I used to play bridge in the local clubs – this was a great experience.

Do you consider yourself to be a good player?

As a player, my partner Natasha Kotronarou and I completed the Greek National Women's Team, in 2008 in Beijing's Mind games and we were one of the 3 pairs of the Greek National Women's Team in 2018 in Oostende. So yes, I would say I'm good and have potential, but I can always do better and aspire to achieve more.

Other than playing, do you have any other interactions with Bridge?

Yes, after my retirement, in 2012, I became a club TD and a teacher. Since then, I have been teaching and managing competitions in a club in Athens. Also in 2019, some friends and I started our own Bridge club called "Agia Paraskevi mind games club" of which I am the president, as well as teaching and running tournaments as a TD. During 2018-2020 I was a board member of the Greek Federation.

Wow, impressive. How did you get to become Greece's Women's Coordinator?

When the EBL's Online Training Program started, the Greek Federation asked me if I'm willing to be the Women's Coordinator. I was happy to contribute and soon after, I was also nominated as the President of the Greek Federation's Women's Committee.

Why is Women's Bridge so important to you?

To start with, it was the only way for me to play at an international level. It is important to maintain the Women's Category, as it's necessary for women to get the experience of high-level bridge in these tournaments, in order to be ready to compete with others in the Open arena.

Both as a player and as a TD it seems Angeliki prefers women's tournaments because:

"The area smells good😊 and it's not so noisy" (she says amusingly).

Do you think women are less competitive than men?

I find women to be as competitive as men. The difference is that they are friendlier and not intimidating as men sometimes can be. (I believe that it's a myth that women are not competitive).

What upsets you with regards to Women's Bridge?

Mainly the assumptions that there is this certainty that women don't want or cannot play high level bridge. Unfortunately, our federation thinks that they shouldn't spend money on Women's Bridge ☹

Although, women players comprise half of the active athletes of bridge in Greece, and therefore contribute half of the federation's budget, still the federation doesn't want to spend a penny on them. They say that women are interested only for the travel and shopping aspects, when going to the championships (This is of course untrue ☹).

They also say that Women Teams don't get good results which is why there's no point to invest in them, but neither do the Open teams from Greece, but unlike the women, they still receive financial support.

I also heard that they say that women don't have steady partnerships, and form occasional partnerships to enter the National team. This is also not accurate, for example in my case it's not true, I have formed serious partnerships with women but the problem is that we (female partnerships in Greece) are few, and those who play prefer to play with a "better" "male partner" to get better results. Unfortunately, it seems that the women themselves lack confidence in their own ability and potential.

What do you think should be done to change the attitude towards Women's Bridge in Greece?

There's much to be done. Firstly, we need to help women players to confront sexism and intimidations when playing with men.

Secondly, we need to provide more opportunities for women to work on their Bridge skills and partnerships with other female players, so that they can be selected for the National Team.

But, the most important thing is to convince our federation to spend an equal amount towards Women's Bridge as they do for men, because this will provide the opportunities we need, which translates to: organizing tournaments, more training opportunities for women and providing financial support for women teams. This will make a difference!

Finally, is there anything you would like to add?

Yes definitely, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EBL's Women Bridge Committee, for their very successful initiative and valuable training program. We are witnessing a tremendous effort, with results in promoting Women's Bridge which are filtering down to all levels.

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